 |
Asunción.
December 2006
Dear Friends, With virtually no cold weather in Paraguay this year,
(today it’s 43ºC & 70% humidity) it was a relief for both of us to be a
few days in Buenos Aires last month - John for the Bishops and
Provincial Executive meetings and Judie for the “first time ever” meet
up of bishops wives from the 7 diocese which make up the Anglican
Province of the Southern Cone of South America.
John went on from there
for a brief visit to the UK to be met by Richard, together with Hugh and
Liz and their 3 lovely children at Heathrow Airport. Judie returned to
Asuncion to be met at 11.30p.m.by 4 forced doors and a ransacked house!
However, apart from the initial scare and disorder, there were no
“personal encounters”, the thieves evidently escaping via the back
garden, leaving the prepared bags empty on the floor by the front door!
We trust that the news about lack of jewelry and money in the house will
be passed around the local “fraternity” and the locks and door frames
have now been replaced!
It has been an eventful and pretty stressful year but we have been
very much aware of God’s protection and strength. As those of you
who receive the monthly prayer calendar will know, the hardest
situation for us personally, and with great consequences for the
whole diocese, has been the need to accept the resignation of
Alberto Romero as pastor of the congregation in Zeballos Cue. The
abuse of confidence in Christian leadership is always serious and
has far reaching consequences. The deep emotional and spiritual
links between us all produced a variety of reactions, both in church
and family members. |
With God’s
help we have tried to go slowly and prayerfully and we believe that the
restoration process has begun both for Alberto and the family and also
for the church family. We value your continued prayer support. Pastor
Luis and Regina Echeverría have now moved into the pastoral house in
Zeballos Cue to be alongside the congregation there and John will
continue to give as much oversight and support as he is able.
This, in its turn, means that pastor Cefe and the Roque Alonso
congregation now have to cover Luis’ commitments there and in the annexe
churches in Mirador and Remansito. Our full time ordained leadership is
small so the loss of a senior pastor is deeply felt. We thank God for
the lay leaders who are giving their support both in Zeballos Cue and
Roque Alonso. As a sign of our love and commitment to Alberto’s wife and
family, we have repaired and extended their own little house (in which
they are now living), and continued our support for Marcos’ and Noelia’s
studies. We pray that Alberto may soon obtain a secular job, as he no
longer receives a stipend from the diocese.
We continue the process towards our retirement next year! The Synod in
March started the discussions and the Extra Ordinary Synod at the
end of October elected a Nominating Committee to look for and interview
the next diocesan bishop. Whilst there is a strong desire amongst some
for a Paraguayan bishop to be appointed, the present auxiliary bishop,
Andres Rodriguez, doesn’t believe that God is calling him into that
role. The Committee was therefore asked to look not only within Paraguay
but in other Latin American dioceses and further afield, with the
proviso that the candidate must be Spanish speaking and have experience
of South America. Again, your prayer support is needed. Any suggestions
could be sent to Bishop Andres or Ed Brice (who is the one Mission
Partner on the Nominating Committee) at the Diocesan Office –
iapar@sce.cnc.una.py
We haven’t as yet any idea where we might live after retirement and we
will need to try and remember which of our long suffering friends still
have boxes of our belongings in their attics! The fact that we do now
receive our pension makes it more credible but it still feels somewhat
unreal!
In
September, on a beautifully dry and sunny day, we celebrated the
centenary of the church in Makxawáya, where the evangelistic work
amongst the Enxet (Lengua Sur) indigenous tribe began. The vision and
incredible perseverance of Wilfrid Barbrooke Grubb bears fruit to this
day as most of our ordained Enxet pastors, now in many different parts
of the Chaco, are descendents of the first Christians in Makxawáya.
We are in the process of producing a little book on the Anglican
ministry in the Chaco over those 100 years. Hopefully it might be
translated one day! The programme with volunteers during July and August
was drastically affected by the financial collapse of the Brazilian
airline, Varig, but we thank God that those who did arrive, also managed
to return home, (after God moved a few mountains for us!) and that the
projects went ahead, with the building of a little church in La Patria,
Chaco; the first stage of a new indigenous hostel & caretaker’s house in
Concepcion and in Emboscada, the first stage completed of an Anglican
Centre to serve the Asunción churches. The growth of interest in
volunteer involvement and the resulting need for greater coordination
and communication between us, meant that John met with leaders in the UK
recently to discuss and pray through how this can best be developed in
the future.
There is such blessing for everyone when there is mutual giving and
receiving but we need God’s guidance in keeping the delicate balance
between financial and spiritual needs and also between first and third
world countries and their totally different cultures. We are encouraged
by the way the students who have received help from the Discretionary
Fund towards their studies this year have persevered and achieved good
results.
Rut is well into her nursing course; Zuny will be receiving her teaching
diploma this month; Primitiva & Juany their dressmaking & hairdressing
certificates. Others are continuing with their secondary or university
studies; some are taking courses in English. Mirian obtained a paid job
after doing her secretarial & computer course in Concepcion. Javier
progresses into the 3rd Year of his medical studies. So, our grateful
thanks to all of you who regularly contribute to this vital area of
need. Not only does it make the studies possible but it also motivates
the students when they see that Christians who don’t even know them, are
interested to support them.
Family news – in Asunción, Luke (13) did very well at school and sports,
and has nobly tried to teach his grandparents about mobile phones and
computers! Jess (9) is endlessly energetic and happy with dance and
social life and Johnny (2) enjoys people & having a good laugh. He
relates well to Buzz Lightyear and Thomas the Tank Engine, loves music,
puzzles and books, speaks a mixture of English, Spanish & German (his
nearest local kindergarten!) and keeps us constantly amused. In England
Richard is still fully involved in Goodrich School, East Dulwich and he
and Zosia will be visiting us in Paraguay at the end of March. Liz and
Hugh take a growing part in the community and church life of Westcott,
with Alpha, mother and toddler and film groups. Maia (8) has started
junior school in Dorking, Oscar (4) began infant school in Westcott and
Matías (1) is fast developing his own happy and pretty determined
personality.
Next year will be a year of great change. As we recognize how God has
guided us through the many changes and challenges of the past 43 years
of our married life, so we trust him for the next steps ahead. We look
back with gratitude * we look forward with hope * and we look upward
with confidence*
May the
peace of the Lord be with you this Christmas.
With our love,
John and Judie. (photo taken last December – 2005) |
